George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ruths had a total of eight children. Only two survived past infancy, a daughter named Mamie and a son named George, Jr.-the boy who would grow up to be an American hero. George, Jr. did not have a happy childhood. His parents worked long hours in the tavern, leaving their son to take care of himself much of the time. Eventually, when Babe was seven years old, his father took him to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, an orphanage and gave babe up to a different family.
George's talent was noticed at an early age. During his years at St. Mary's, he continued to play a variety of positions on the school baseball teams. He played catcher most often during those years, until he started pitching around the age of 15. His pitching prowess was immediately noticeable, and he alternated at both catcher and pitcher on St. Mary's varsity team. When George was 19, Jack Dunn, owner and manager of the Baltimore Orioles (a Boston Red Sox minor league team at the time), recognized the young man's talent and signed him to a contract. Jack was known as one of the best scouts in baseball. When the other players saw the amazing young Ruth, they referred to him as "Jack's newest babe." George Herman Ruth, Jr. was known as the "Babe" ever since.
The Yankees knew they were getting a star when they purchased Babe Ruth from the Red Sox, but they had no idea they were changing the course of modern sports history. In what became known as the "Curse of the Bambino," the New York Yankees would go on to win 39 American League Pennants and 26 World Series Titles. The Red Sox, on the other hand, did not win another World Series until 2004.
In 1920, his first season in New York, Babe destroyed his own home run record he set the year before. He hit 54 home runs, nearly double his previous record of 29. When Ruth joined the Yankees, the team shared the Polo grounds with the New York Giants, a different baseball team. Within a short time, Babe's amazing home run hitting became the biggest ticket in New York City. Soon, the Yankees drew so many fans that the team could afford to build Yankee Stadium, which opened in 1923. The famous stadium became known as "The House that Ruth Built." Of course, on opening day he hit a home run. Later that season the Yankees began a tradition of excellence that continues today by winning their first World Series title.
Regardless of Babe's on-field accomplishments, his personal life continued to be great. He married 17-year-old waitress Helen Woodford in October 1914. By 1919, Babe made enough money for them to buy a country house in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in addition to their New York City home. In 1921 they adopted a baby girl named Dorothy. Eventually, the relationship failed and the couple officially separated in 1925. After the separation, however, Helen and Babe remained married because their religious beliefs prevented divorce. Tragically, in 1929 Helen was killed in a house fire. Dorothy, who had been living with her mother, came to stay with Babe. He married actress and model Claire Hodgson a few months later in April 1929, the day before the Yankees' opening game against the Boston Red Sox. Babe hit a homer out of Yankee Stadium for his new bride on his first at-bat.
Achievements
Babe Ruth's career mark of 714 home runs stood as the all-time record for 39 years, until Hank Aaron hit his 715th on Opening Day of the 1974 season.
Babe Ruth is the only player ever to hit three home runs in a World Series game on two separate occasions-Game 4 of the 1926 Series and Game 4 of the 1928 Series.
Babe Ruth reached the 500 home run plateau in 5801 at-bats--the second fewest number in history.
Babe Ruth led the American League in home runs 12 times (1918-1921, 1923, 1924, 1926-1931.)
From 1915-17, Ruth won 65 games, the most by any left-handed pitcher in the majors during that time.
Ruth's career .690 slugging percentage is the highest total in the history of Major League Baseball. (Slugging percentage is calculated by dividing total bases by at-bats.)
*** After the Red Sox sold him to the Yankees, Ruth single-handedly outhomered the entireBoston team in 10 of the next 12 seasons.
Biography
George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ruths had a total of eight children. Only two survived past infancy, a daughter named Mamie and a son named George, Jr.-the boy who would grow up to be an American hero.
George, Jr. did not have a happy childhood. His parents worked long hours in the tavern, leaving their son to take care of himself much of the time. Eventually, when Babe was seven years old, his father took him to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, an orphanage and gave babe up to a different family.
George's talent was noticed at an early age. During his years at St. Mary's, he continued to play a variety of positions on the school baseball teams. He played catcher most often during those years, until he started pitching around the age of 15. His pitching prowess was immediately noticeable, and he alternated at both catcher and pitcher on St. Mary's varsity team.
When George was 19, Jack Dunn, owner and manager of the Baltimore Orioles (a Boston Red Sox minor league team at the time), recognized the young man's talent and signed him to a contract. Jack was known as one of the best scouts in baseball. When the other players saw the amazing young Ruth, they referred to him as "Jack's newest babe." George Herman Ruth, Jr. was known as the "Babe" ever since.
The Yankees knew they were getting a star when they purchased Babe Ruth from the Red Sox, but they had no idea they were changing the course of modern sports history. In what became known as the "Curse of the Bambino," the New York Yankees would go on to win 39 American League Pennants and 26 World Series Titles. The Red Sox, on the other hand, did not win another World Series until 2004.
In 1920, his first season in New York, Babe destroyed his own home run record he set the year before. He hit 54 home runs, nearly double his previous record of 29. When Ruth joined the Yankees, the team shared the Polo grounds with the New York Giants, a different baseball team. Within a short time, Babe's amazing home run hitting became the biggest ticket in New York City. Soon, the Yankees drew so many fans that the team could afford to build Yankee Stadium, which opened in 1923. The famous stadium became known as "The House that Ruth Built." Of course, on opening day he hit a home run. Later that season the Yankees began a tradition of excellence that continues today by winning their first World Series title.
Regardless of Babe's on-field accomplishments, his personal life continued to be great. He married 17-year-old waitress Helen Woodford in October 1914. By 1919, Babe made enough money for them to buy a country house in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in addition to their New York City home. In 1921 they adopted a baby girl named Dorothy. Eventually, the relationship failed and the couple officially separated in 1925. After the separation, however, Helen and Babe remained married because their religious beliefs prevented divorce. Tragically, in 1929 Helen was killed in a house fire. Dorothy, who had been living with her mother, came to stay with Babe. He married actress and model Claire Hodgson a few months later in April 1929, the day before the Yankees' opening game against the Boston Red Sox. Babe hit a homer out of Yankee Stadium for his new bride on his first at-bat.
Achievements